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< 16ga. General Discussion ~ The Glorious First |
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Posted:
Wed Sep 01, 2021 9:37 pm
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Joined: 16 Jul 2015
Posts: 2124
Location: Hudson,Wy
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Since we don't have the "Glorious 12th", the August 12th grouse opener, as they do in Great Britain...Sept. 1st will have to do! Here in Wyoming, September One represents the onset for our bird seasons. Mourning dove opened today as did Blue and Ruffed grouse seasons.
Our dove numbers around here appear to be only slightly better than our elephant population, so it was not a case of doves in the morning/ grouse in the afternoon this year. However, grouse numbers are up slightly. Rusty and I soon forgot all about the dove situation. He seemed quite content with the situation, being able to use talents beyond mere retrieval duty. The Cogswell 16 did help ensure his retrieval duties would remain part of the deal though.
Here are some photos from today. Anyone else fortunate enough to be kicking off the joyous months, feel free to join in!
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_________________ Only catch snowflakes on your tongue AFTER the birds fly south for the winter... |
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Posted:
Thu Sep 02, 2021 5:35 am
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Joined: 04 Mar 2019
Posts: 1837
Location: Central ND
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Dinner looks very promising.
Starting off the grouse season here in about an hour and a half. |
_________________ Mark...You are entitled to your own opinion. You aren't entitled to your own facts. |
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Posted:
Thu Sep 02, 2021 5:55 am
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Member
Joined: 09 Jan 2013
Posts: 2168
Location: Florida
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Love Rusty the wonder dog , great pictures !!!!!!!
Thanks ! |
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Posted:
Thu Sep 02, 2021 2:21 pm
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Joined: 05 Oct 2017
Posts: 284
Location: Central MN
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I found what was the local mother load of doves or so I thought. I set out in the morning for 2 hours and had one dove in the bag. I returned in the afternoon for a few hours and took home 2 more.
Only saw 12 doves while out. Not sure what happened, did they migrate south.
Either way it was good to get out and with the drought up until a week or so ago here in MN there are no misquetoes!
Public land = steel, steel = 12ga so I used a new to me Benlli M1
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_________________ What's behind what your shooting at? |
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Posted:
Thu Sep 02, 2021 2:23 pm
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Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2798
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa
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Garhart,
As usual great pictures, especially of Rusty! Congrats on a great opening day!
Hope my Oct 15th will end with 1/2 the Grouse you were able to take. Dinner will be especially nice, especially if you age the birds. Now you have me all cranked up for opening day and its a ways off yet here in Pa. Hay the Cogs is a nice gun, but we need to get you a 16 gauge #5 L.C. Smith double gun!
all the best,
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man |
_________________ "L.C. Smith America's Best" - John Houchins
Pine Creek Grouse Dog Trainers |
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Posted:
Thu Sep 02, 2021 2:59 pm
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Joined: 26 Jun 2020
Posts: 140
Location: Spokane, WA
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10 Doves in two hours with my 28 ga Iside Prestige, sixteen empties surprised myself.
Jim |
_________________ Stevens 311c 16
F.A.I.R. ISIDE EM 16
Rem 58 16
A5 Sweet Sixteen
Husqvarna model 49 16 |
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Posted:
Thu Sep 02, 2021 3:09 pm
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Joined: 14 Apr 2020
Posts: 144
Location: Boise,Idaho
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Still jealous of Wyo and his dog!
Bob |
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Posted:
Thu Sep 02, 2021 3:17 pm
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Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2798
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa
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Silverbowff,
Congrats on some real fine Dove gunning with your 28 gauge SXS double gun, my buddy Don Moody would have been proud of you! Don was about the best Dove gunner I ever knew with a 28 gauge double gun, you did incredibly well sir!
all the best,
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man |
_________________ "L.C. Smith America's Best" - John Houchins
Pine Creek Grouse Dog Trainers |
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Posted:
Thu Sep 02, 2021 6:57 pm
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Joined: 17 Jan 2014
Posts: 1377
Location: Denver, Colorado
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Dave:
First I've ever heard somebody mention aging grouse. I've read about it but... have never done it. Is it as beneficial as I am hoping it will be? I have aged pheasants for several years now and will (hopefully) be trying geese this year as well.
From the Orvis Game Cookbook...
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_________________ 'Tis better to burn out than it is to rust...... |
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Posted:
Thu Sep 02, 2021 10:41 pm
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Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2798
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa
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Lloyd3,
That particular Orvis book gives my father exact receipt, remove the internals prior to aging for about 5 or 6 days is the way we do it. Make sure to remove the birds before they get to over 130 degrees so the Grouse does not dry out. Many times my father would use big pieces of Canadian Beacon instead of beacon strips. It makes the birds taste a little different. Grouse legs are kind of a 2ndary snack, the breast with the wings on is incredible eating. The trick according to my father who was one incredible chef is to never over cook the Grouse, they are not like a chicken a little pink near the bone will not hurt you. Making the gravy is another trick that I will not give out, I believe there are partial directions for fixing it in the old Orris book, not complete however. There is also some incredible stuffing my Grandmother use to make that goes along with the gravy. Always age the Grouse for the best taste and tenderness. Remember the 35 minute time in the oven, has to due with the size of the bird, smaller birds take less time to cook, you want to remove the birds just before they reach the 130 degree temperature, so that the Grouse taste fantastic.
good eating to you sir!
all the best,
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man. |
_________________ "L.C. Smith America's Best" - John Houchins
Pine Creek Grouse Dog Trainers |
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Posted:
Fri Sep 03, 2021 7:32 pm
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Joined: 17 Jan 2014
Posts: 1377
Location: Denver, Colorado
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Dave: Thank you, I am looking forward to all of the field work required for this research. I suspect that after ageing, I will likely still skin most of the birds as the skin is so paper-thin. Historically, we make grouse in either a very-tasty asian stir-fry or in a grilled bacon-wrapped bundle of well-cleaned parts (including the thighs and the meaty bits off of the base of the wings. If (big if) I can successfully pluck a few birds then the roasting option will be employed. Not unusual to have several multi-bird days where we hunt and the numbers can overwhelm if you don't stay ahead of it. I might add that frozen birds are also brined before any cooking to replace the fluids lost in the freezing (and now ageing) processes. |
_________________ 'Tis better to burn out than it is to rust...... |
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Posted:
Fri Sep 03, 2021 10:43 pm
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Joined: 21 Sep 2019
Posts: 31
Location: Lake Taupo, NZ
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Lloyd3 wrote: |
Dave:
First I've ever heard somebody mention aging grouse. I have aged pheasants for several years now
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Several years may be a little long to age a pheasant for. |
_________________ Simplify, simplify. |
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Posted:
Sat Sep 04, 2021 5:00 am
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Joined: 08 Mar 2016
Posts: 120
Location: South Dakota
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Always nice to see the first outings of the season. I look forward to seeing more picture of everybody’s adventures this season. |
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Posted:
Sat Sep 04, 2021 11:31 am
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Joined: 16 Mar 2017
Posts: 226
Location: Valdosta GA
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Posted:
Sat Sep 04, 2021 12:18 pm
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Joined: 17 Jan 2014
Posts: 1377
Location: Denver, Colorado
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bruski: Agreed! I actually use my garage refrigerator and give them about 4-5 days. The difference is night and day when you clean them; no bad smells, pink and tender flesh, and spectacular results in the kitchen. |
_________________ 'Tis better to burn out than it is to rust...... |
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